Fernando Alonso Díaz, born on July 29, 1981, in Oviedo, Asturias, Spain, is a celebrated Spanish racing driver widely regarded as one of Formula One’s all-time greats. Competing for Aston Martin in Formula One, Alonso has carved a legacy through his blistering speed, tactical brilliance, and relentless determination. Beyond Formula One, his versatility shines in endurance racing, where he has secured victories in prestigious events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Starting his motorsport journey at the tender age of three, Alonso’s rise from a working-class family to global stardom is a testament to his talent, perseverance, and the unwavering support of his parents. His career, spanning over two decades, has not only popularized Formula One in Spain but also established him as a household name in motorsport worldwide.
Fernando Alonso parents
Fernando’s parents, José Luis Alonso and Ana María Díaz Martínez, played pivotal roles in nurturing his passion for racing despite their modest circumstances. José Luis, a mechanic at a mine shaft explosives factory, was an amateur kart racer whose love for motorsport inspired him to build a go-kart for his daughter, Lorena, when she was eight. When Lorena showed little interest, the kart was passed to a three-year-old Fernando, whose pedals were modified to accommodate his small stature.
José Luis became Fernando’s mechanic, manager, and mentor, guiding him through the early years of karting while instilling values of humility and resilience. He initially viewed Fernando’s racing as a hobby, not foreseeing a professional career, and focused on teaching him life lessons beyond the track, keeping him grounded. Ana María, who worked in a department store, was equally dedicated, ensuring Fernando balanced his education with racing. She sewed his racing overalls, managed household responsibilities, and supported the family’s tight finances to fund his karting endeavors.
Career
Alonso’s racing career began in karting, where he won multiple regional and national championships in Spain, including four consecutive junior titles from 1993 to 1996 and the Junior World Cup in 1996. His talent attracted sponsorship, enabling him to progress to car racing at 17, where he won the 1999 Euro Open by Nissan. He debuted in Formula One with Minardi in 2001, but his breakthrough came with Renault in 2003, where he became the youngest driver to win a Grand Prix at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Alonso’s golden years were 2005 and 2006, when he clinched back-to-back Formula One World Drivers’ Championships with Renault, ending Michael Schumacher’s five-year dominance and becoming the youngest double champion at the time.
Subsequent stints with McLaren, Ferrari, and a return to McLaren yielded mixed results, with notable runner-up finishes in 2010, 2012, and 2013 with Ferrari, but no further titles. Frustrated by uncompetitive machinery, Alonso retired from Formula One in 2018, only to return in 2021 with Alpine, where he secured a podium in Qatar. In 2023, he joined Aston Martin, achieving multiple podiums, including his 100th career podium at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and finishing fourth in the Drivers’ Championship. Outside Formula One, Alonso won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2018 and 2019 and the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2018–19 with Toyota, and the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2019. His attempts at the Indianapolis 500, part of his pursuit of the Triple Crown of Motorsport, have yet to yield a victory.
Accolades
Alonso’s career is adorned with numerous accolades that reflect his extraordinary skill and versatility. In Formula One, he has secured two World Drivers’ Championships (2005, 2006), 32 Grand Prix victories, 22 pole positions, and 106 podium finishes across 399 starts, holding the record for the most career starts. He was the youngest driver to achieve several milestones, including pole position, race win, and world championship, until later surpassed. In endurance racing, Alonso is the only driver to have won both the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship (2018–19), with two Le Mans victories (2018, 2019) and a Daytona win (2019).
His 2017 Indianapolis 500 performance earned him the Fastest Rookie award and Rookie of the Year honors. Alonso’s impact extends beyond statistics; he was named Personality Media’s favorite male athlete in Spain in 2015 with a 99% recognition rating and ranked among the top two most popular drivers in Grand Prix Drivers’ Association fan surveys in 2010, 2015, and 2017. His contributions to motorsport and society are recognized through his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and the establishment of the Fernando Alonso Foundation to promote road safety and motorsport. The Fernando Alonso Sports Complex and Museo y Circuito Fernando Alonso in Oviedo, opened in 2015, celebrate his legacy, housing his racing memorabilia and inspiring future generations.